I John 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
In my mind, one of the greatest descriptions of God’s love is found in John 3:16 where the Bible says that God “so” loved the world. That little word removes all the boundaries and limits to His love. It makes His love unable to be defined fully, or qualified. God’s love can only be experienced and once you experience it you cannot ever find where it ends. As another passage of Scripture says, we will never know the height, the depth, the length, the width, the beginning, or the end of God’s love.I John 3:1 goes hand in hand with John 3:16. “What manner of love” is almost like saying “For God so loved the world.” I believe the manner of love that God has loved us with is too wonderful and glorious to fully comprehend. One aspect of God’s love is mentioned here. He has made us His children. “We should be called the sons (children) of God.” When God saved us, He placed us immediately (I John 3:2) into His family with all the rights of an adult child.In conclusion, I want to leave you with three thoughts to meditate on throughout the day.
- I John 3:1 connects God’s love directly to our Family Rights. “we should be called the sons (children) of God”
- I John 3:2 connects God’s love directly to our Family Resemblance. “when He shall appear, we shall be like Him”
- I John 3:3 connects God’s love directly to our Family Reputation. “every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure”
We are loved by God. God’s love is so amazing and wonderful we will never fully comprehend it. God’s love has placed us in the family of God and guaranteed us an eternal future in heaven. Until we get there, we should live a life that points others to the “what manner of love” that God has for them.
photo credit: Kelly Morton
Bell Creek Baptist Church 